Board-mounted optical connector

Abstract

A board-mounted optical connector is provided which enables high-density wiring of optical fibers on a board. The board-mounted optical connector is a board-mounted optical connector having a housing comprising: a first housing component, and a second housing component. The first housing component has a housing space accessible through an opening formed in at least a portion of a side wall and houses portions of optical fiber members that are partially laid along the top surface of a board and are bent at nearly right angle to the board together with an optical component connected to the optical fiber members in the housing space through the opening. The second housing component is attached to the first housing component and can close the opening of the housing space with the portions of the optical fiber members and the optical component connected to the optical fiber members housed in the first housing component.

1. A board-mounted optical connector to be fitted with a corresponding optical connector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of a board on which the board-mounted optical connector is mounted, the board-mounted optical connector having a housing comprising:
 a first housing component; and 
 a second housing component; 
 
     wherein
 the first housing component has a housing space accessible through an opening formed in at least a portion of a side wall of the first housing component and houses portions of optical fiber members that are partially laid along the top surface of the board and are bent at nearly a right angle to the board together with an optical component connected to the optical fiber members in the housing space through the opening, the opening being configured so that the optical component and the portions of the optical fiber members are accessible from a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the board, and 
 the second housing component is attached to the first housing component in the direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the board and can close the opening of the housing space with the portions of the optical fiber members and the optical component connected to the optical fiber members housed in the first housing component. 
 
   
   
     2. The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing component and the second housing component each are integrally molded and have portions for guiding or locking a corresponding connector to be fitted to the optical connector. 
   
   
     3. The optical connector of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing component is fixed to the first housing component by press fitting. 
   
   
     4. The optical connector of  claim 3 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     5. The optical connector of  claim 4 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     6. The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the second housing component is fixed to the first housing component by press fitting. 
   
   
     7. The optical connector of  claim 6 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     8. The optical connector of  claim 7 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     9. The optical connector of  claim 6 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     10. The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     11. The optical connector of  claim 10 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     12. The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     13. The optical connector of  claim 1 , wherein convex slide portions and concave slide portions are formed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the board on the respective first housing component and the second housing component. 
   
   
     14. A board-mounted optical connector to be fitted with a corresponding optical connector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of a board on which the board-mounted optical connector is mounted, the board-mounted optical connector having a housing comprising:
 holding components; 
 a first housing component; and 
 a second housing component; 
 
     wherein
 the holding components hold a plurality of optical components each connected to one ends of optical fiber members, 
 the first housing component has a housing space accessible through an opening formed in a side wall of the first housing component and houses portions of the optical fiber members that are partially laid along the top surface of the board and are bent at nearly a right angle to the board together with the holding components connected to the optical fiber members in the housing space through the opening, the opening being configured so that the optical component and the portions of the optical fiber members are accessible from a direction substantially parallel to the top surface of the board, and 
 the second housing component is attached to the first housing component from above the board in the direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the board and can close the opening of the housing space with the portions of the optical fiber members and the optical components connected to the optical fiber members housed in the first housing component. 
 
   
   
     15. The optical connector of  claim 14 , wherein an auxiliary housing having portions for guiding or locking a corresponding connector to be fitted to the optical connector is attached to the holding components. 
   
   
     16. The optical connector of  claim 15 , wherein the second housing component is fixed to the first housing component by press fitting. 
   
   
     17. The optical connector of  claim 16 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     18. The optical connector of  claim 17 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     19. The optical connector of  claim 14 , wherein the second housing component is fixed to the first housing component by press fitting. 
   
   
     20. The optical connector of  claim 19 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     21. The optical connector of  claim 20 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     22. The optical connector of  claim 19 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     23. The optical connector of  claim 14 , wherein the first housing component has press-fit terminals on the fixing surface which contacts the board. 
   
   
     24. The optical connector of  claim 23 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     25. The optical connector of  claim 14 , wherein in the first housing component, an edge of the fixing surface which contacts the board is hollowed on the side where the opening is formed. 
   
   
     26. The optical connector of  claim 14 , wherein convex slide portions and concave slide portions are formed in the direction substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the board on the respective first housing component and the second housing component.